Owner manual

17 HP SIM custom tools
General concepts
Custom tools are tools that can be created by the user to run on the CMS or on target systems. For
example:
• Remote tool
A tool that runs on selected target systems. It might copy files to the target systems or run
specific X-Window applications on the target systems. You can schedule this tool.
• CMS tool
A tool that runs on the CMS. It is usually a script or batch file and can pass in environment
variables. Using Automatic Event Handling, you can configure this tool to run when events
are received. You can schedule this tool.
• Web page tool
A tool that launches a web URL. The URL is launched in a separate browser window on the
CMS. You cannot schedule this tool.
To add custom tools, you can either use the Tools→Custom Tools→New Custom Tool menu in the
GUI, or edit the tool definition files (tdefs) in a text editor and register them with the CLI mxtool.
Both procedures are explained in this chapter.
Tool types
As delivered, HP SIM provides an administrator with unified management control of any number
of servers and storage devices from a single console in the data center or in a remote location.
When customized with specialized tools or Insight Essentials Value Added Software plug-ins, HP
SIM becomes a comprehensive, easy-to-use platform for controlling Microsoft Windows, Linux, or
HP-UX enterprise environments.
A key method of administering multiple systems is through scripting. HP SIM features a modular
architecture that uses tool definition files (TDEFs) written in the XML data file format. A TDEF contains
the definitions of one or more tools used by HP SIM and define how a tool launches and executes.
A tool can be a script or an executable file. Creating custom tools enables you to extend the use
of HP SIM to your specific business environment.
Table 9 Tool types
DescriptionName
An SSA tool executes on a selected target and is only
aware of the target system environment. In executing an
Single-system-aware command tool OR Remote Tool in the
GUI
SSA tool, the HP SIM Distributed Task Facility (DTF) of the
General concepts 83